Ernesto Downgraded

By AP&nbsp|&nbsp

Posted: Wed 12:08 PM, Aug 30, 2006&nbsp|&nbsp

Updated: Wed 2:25 PM, Aug 30, 2006

Ernesto is now downgraded to a tropical depression as it moves north.

The National Hurricane Center says the center of the storm is now well inland over south Florida. It had already lost a lot of strength when it made landfall Tuesday night, and was more of a nuisance than anything else. To many it looked like a big rain storm, dropping two inches worth in Fort Lauderdale by mid morning.

At least at first glance it doesn't seem like there's much damage. Still, Florida emergency officials are waiting for full damage assessments expected later Wednesday. They expect problems like flooded roads and downed power lines.

With maximum sustained winds of 35 miles an hour, Ernesto now has less than half the wind speed required to be called a hurricane. It should be gone from Florida Wednesday night and head toward the Carolinas. But forecasters warn it could regain strength.

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